Active Learning Engaging & Motivating

From the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education by Arthur W. Chickering and Zelda F. Gamson 3. Good Practice Encourages Active Learning Learning is not a spectator sport. Students do not learn much just sitting in classes listening to teachers, memorizing pre-packaged assignments, and spitting out answers. They must talk about what they are learning, write about it, relate it to past experiences, and apply it to their daily lives. They must make what they learn part of themselves.

It’s what the student does! Biggs and Tang, (2007) chap. 2  Chickering and Gamson’s principle 3 aligns with Biggs and Tang’s view that we need to be teaching according to how students learn. (Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education. AAHE Bulletin March 1987).  This aligns with Wittrock’s research which said that activity was better than inactivity (Handbook of research on teaching, M.C. Wittrock )  It is also about engagement; High quality teaching implies recognising that students must be engaged with the content of learning tasks in a way that is likely to enable them to reach understanding... Ramsden, 2003 cited in Bryson and Hand, 2007

Engaging students actively  Briefly outline a strategy/activity that you use and find successful in engaging students in your class  Be prepared to discuss this and to explain why you believe it is successful

Remember!  When you have a class of students sitting on their chairs looking at you, you can be sure of two things!

Remember!  When you have a class of students sitting on their chairs looking at you, you can be sure of two things!  1: They are sitting on their chairs

Remember!  When you have a class of students sitting on their chairs looking at you you can be sure of two things!  1: They are sitting on their chairs AND  2: They are looking at you!!!

...And also most people learn...  10% of what they read  20% of what they hear  30% of what they see  50% of what they see and hear  70% of what they talk over with others  80% of what they do and use in real life  90% of what they teach to someone else Biggs, 1999 attributed to Glaser.

What is active learning and does it help? Definition Active learning is generally defined as any instructional method that engages students in the learning process. (It includes Cooperative Learning, Collaborative learning and Problem based learning). (Prince, 2004) There are two core aspects to using active learning approaches: 1. Using it in traditional lecture classes to maintain interest and attention And 2. To promote student engagement with the material

What are the effects of activity on learning? It:  Enhances attention and concentration  Heightens preparedness  Enhances performance  Increases alertness (through increased adrenaline)  Enhances retention  Increases motivation  Enhances engagement

Caveats!  But: It is important to realise that the actual activity influences the learning  So: Ensure that the activity is seen as relevant and contributing to the learning process e.g. By encouraging students to think about what they are learning

What sort of activities might be used?  Physical actions  Cooperative activities  Collaborative activities  Problem-based approaches

Types of Activities  Teacher -directed  Peer-directed  Self-directed

Teacher directed activities are best where...  in-depth work is required  the teacher is the expert  the focus is prioritised content  knowledge needs to be imparted, explained, clarified  feedback is needed  understanding can be deepened through teacher-student interaction

Types of Teacher-directed activities  Lectures and class teaching  Tutorials  Laboratories  Studios  Class presentations  Concept mapping  Questioning  Seminars  Think-aloud modelling  Brainstorming  Pyramiding ...

Peer directed activities are best for...  elaborating and broadening  enabling judgments about standards to be made  increasing understanding  providing different perspectives  encouraging insights  enhancing motivation  increasing self-concept ... (Peer Directed activities are often set up by teachers);

Types of Peer directed activities  Syndicate groups  Buzz groups  Jigsaw  Problem solving groups  Learning partners  Reciprocal questioning  Postbox groups  Project teams  ‘Snowballs’ ...

Self Directed activities are best for...  encouraging autonomy  enhancing learning  seeking new information  utilising information  evaluating importance of information  solving non-text type problems  developing reflection  focusing on self-improvement ...

Types of self-directed activities  Note keeping  Note taking and making  Strategic and additional reading  Writing within the discipline  Using concept maps  SQ3R (survey, question, read, reflect, review)  Revision  B.I.G (Beyond information given)  W.I.G.(without information given)  All study skills ... Self Directed activities involve independent learning and study – a key objective of higher education requiring motivation, relevance and study skills

Encouraging and enhancing self-directed activity by...  Embedding time management advice and practices into your programme  Embedding study skills strategies into your teaching  Embedding a range of other useful strategies  Encouraging and acknowledge (value) reflection

Further motivational and active strategies  Building on the known.  Review and link work  Use familiar examples as illustrations  Use and explain parallels  Use cross reference  Curriculum design (incorporating real- world examples)

Further motivational and active strategies - 2  Maximising structure;  Avoid content overload  Avoid rambling  Provide ‘advance organisers’  Involve ‘attention grabbers’  Avoid over-simplification  Incorporate reflective experiences  Ensure materials are linked  Make the material accessible  Provide students with ‘clues’  Avoids ‘spoon feeding’  Avoid giant ‘intellectual leaps’

Further motivational and active strategies - 3  Use error constructively  Involves formative assessment  Support a climate where its ok to make mistakes  Encourages risk taking  Enables misconception to be identified and correctedUse discussion and debate  Subtle questioning ...

Twelve Active Learning Strategies  Opening question  Introductory ‘Think-Pair-Share’  Focused listing  Brainstorm  Questions?  “The blank slide!”  Think-pair-share  Note check  Question and answer pairs  Two minute paper  ‘One last question...’  One final question Reference: University of Minnesota Centre for Teaching and Learning

Using powerpoint actively “If the only tool you have is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail!”  Advantages of powerpoint. List the strengths and weaknesses of this tool  Disadvantages of powerpoint

Using powerpoint actively  Gaining attention  A dramatic image  A blank slide  A video clip  Add music  Provide a roadmap of the session  List objectives  Review progress so far  Display an ‘opening question’  Display an initial activity

Teaching that promotes learning...  Focuses on;  Allowing students to make choices  Encourages students to develop reflection and self-evaluation capability  Offering a variety of experiences  Providing a realistic and feasible workload  Giving prompt and effective feedback